http://www.stpeter.org.nz/blog/ The latest Blog feeds from www.stpeter.org.nz en-us Sun, 02 Aug 2026 05:27:20 +1200 Rocketspark http://www.stpeter.org.nz/blog/post/168116/views-from-the-pews-the-touchstone/ ... Sun, 02 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +1200 http://www.stpeter.org.nz/blog/#post168116 http://www.stpeter.org.nz/blog/post/167893/views-from-the-pews-patriot/ It’s time for another book review. ‘Patriot’ is a personal and political memoir written by the late Alexei Navalny, who died in mysterious circumstances while a prisoner of the Russian state in 2024. It is clear that the author sees himself as patriotic, but argues that true patriotism has a strictly moral - and self-denying - basis. Navalny believed in a Russia free of state-enabled crime where ordinary Russians were free to reach their own potential. He was a devoted family man, a husban... Sun, 26 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +1200 http://www.stpeter.org.nz/blog/#post167893 http://www.stpeter.org.nz/blog/post/167676/views-from-the-pews-what-are-our-red-lines/ A parishioner asked for help in identifying what was distinctive in the New Zealand Anglican Church, what we were proudest of, and what we would say to others in order to encourage them to come and see what we do. This led to a discussion about change in the Church, how it is managed, and whether we had any red lines that would need defending at all costs. We both cited cases of parishes that suffered from ill-managed change, sometimes driven by newcomers who felt a God-given mission to effect c... Sun, 19 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +1200 http://www.stpeter.org.nz/blog/#post167676 http://www.stpeter.org.nz/blog/post/167311/views-from-the-pews-jutta-ackerman/ Amid the noise of the daily news cycle - fear, division, and anger, it is easy to forget one of the great achievements of the last 80 years - the resumption of grown-up relationships with Germany, Japan, and to a significant extent, Vietnam. International reconciliations are assumed to be the work of leaders, diplomats, royalty. And it is true that the reconciliation with Germany was partly borne on cold winds blowing from the former Soviet Union. Yes, politics has its place, and all those glitt... Thu, 09 Jul 2026 11:49:03 +1200 http://www.stpeter.org.nz/blog/#post167311 http://www.stpeter.org.nz/blog/post/167106/views-from-the-pews-no-man-is-an-island/ No man is an island,Entire of itself,Every man is a piece of the continent,A part of the main.If a clod be washed away by the sea,Europe is the less.As well as if a promontory were.As well as if a manor of thy friend'sOr of thine own were:Any man's death diminishes me,Because I am involved in mankind,And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls;It tolls for thee.                    &nb... Sun, 05 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +1200 http://www.stpeter.org.nz/blog/#post167106 http://www.stpeter.org.nz/blog/post/166767/views-from-the-pews-pied-beauty/ Glory be to God for dappled things –    For skies of couple-colour as a brinded cow;       For rose-moles all in stipple upon trout that swim; Fresh-firecoal chestnut-falls; finches’ wings;    Landscape plotted and pieced – fold, fallow, and plough;       And áll trádes, their gear and tackle and trim.All things counter, original, spare, strange;    Whatever is fickle, freckled (who knows how?)   &n... Sun, 28 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +1200 http://www.stpeter.org.nz/blog/#post166767 http://www.stpeter.org.nz/blog/post/166702/behind-the-pipes-of-st-peters-cathedral/ It’s a very impressive sight with a very impressive sound. The pipe organ at St Peter’s Cathedral fills the space with sound that feels larger than its source.... Thu, 25 Jun 2026 10:08:39 +1200 http://www.stpeter.org.nz/blog/#post166702 http://www.stpeter.org.nz/blog/post/166500/views-from-the-pews--theological-statement-on-disability/ ... Sun, 21 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +1200 http://www.stpeter.org.nz/blog/#post166500 http://www.stpeter.org.nz/blog/post/166242/sadhu-sundar-singh/ “I have decided to follow Jesus, the Cross before me, the world behind me — no turning back.” That simple, memorable chorus has a way of looping in the mind. I first heard it sung by a Wellington Māori choir on an LP I bought in London, and it has stayed with me ever since.The hymn’s origins are as striking as its tune. The melody is often described as Indian traditional, and the words are attributed to Sadhu Sundar Singh — “Sadhu” being a title meaning ascetic or holy man. Sundar... Sun, 14 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +1200 http://www.stpeter.org.nz/blog/#post166242 http://www.stpeter.org.nz/blog/post/165634/from-the-cathedral-choir-cecily-shaw/ Cecily Shaw once thought Hamilton was a big, scary city. Now she's living in London, preparing to head back for the first time in three years for one of New Zealand's most prestigious vocal competitions. The former St Peter's Cathedral choir member and Sunday School teacher shares her story, from the friendships and mentors to the 'face-palm' moments that made her time at the Cathedral unforgettable.... Thu, 11 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +1200 http://www.stpeter.org.nz/blog/#post165634